Ninja Tune is celebrating their 20 year anniversary, and what better way to celebrate then putting out an LP of one of their all time favorites, Bonobo. Set to release on March 29th around the world, Black Sands is sure to be a credit to Ninja Tune’s name sake. Bonobo has been a pioneer in the realm of down-temp, chill producers. Bonobo together with Andreya Triana give Massive Attack’s signature allure with Elizabeth Fraser a run for it’s money. Andreya Triana, who just signed to Ninja Tune, guests on Black Sands, and lights up the featured song, “Eyes Down.”
“Eyes Down” leads in with calm keys accented with gentle drum kit pops. As the listener is eased into the track, Andreya Triana adds a soulful flirtation. As multiple tracks of Triana’s vocal harmonies wrap the listeners ear, horns add a new dimension. More layers build adding soft tension followed by a delicate release. “Eyes Down” is relaxed perfection.
Enjoy the “Eyes Down (preview edit)” and get ready to check out Bonobo at a city near you. See Bonobo’s tour dates HERE. He’ll be at The Showbox at the Market on April 25, 2010. Be excited for the release of Black Sands on March 29th–it’s coming.
There is going to be a world class DJ at Neumos tonight. Mark Farina might not look like the coolest DJ on the block, but his reputation is solid. He has been rousing crowds and selling out clubs with his electronic goodness for a long time. Electronic music has taken many different forms in the past decade. It used to be when people would say electronic, the first thought to the listeners mind would be techno or perhaps house music. Nowadays when people say electronic the listener doesn’t know what their getting besides instrumentation in some form that isn’t organic such as a guitar or drum set. In this case, Mark Farina is bringing full on house music to Neumos, and he is guaranteed to be bringing the booze and scantily clad women. Show up at Neumos if you want that kind of party tonight. Here is a sample:
Are you one who dares to dream? As people go through life tying experiences to music, there are few times when one is able to do it in a grand fashion outside of their own making. Most of us don’t actually get to chronicle our lives, make movies, and choose said soundtracks but tonight is one of the nights when a few select people can have their life beautifully orchestrated in person, and whoever chooses to can join in from home. Keith Kenniff, aka Helios, is someone who creates music to accompany grand stories. In an ideally apropos setting, Kenniff will be play at a private home starting at 8pm sharp. You can stream it here for free. If you choose to stay in for this event, bring your stories for Helios to caress. This could be one of the best nights to stay at home. If you want more info on Helios and Kenniff before you decide to stay in on a Saturday night, check out SSGs previous content.
For more show ideas, visit our friends at ReignCity.com
Band Members
Jimmy LaValle
Matt Resovich
Drew Andrews
Gram LeBron
Tim Reece
Andrew Pates
The Album Leaf graced Neumos on February 6, 2010, and it was no ordinary show. Not an official album release show, but with A Chorus of Storytellers coming out only four days prior, Seattleites were in the mode of celebrating the long awaited record from one of our own native labels’ artists. Not only did the audience get to celebrate A Chorus of Storytellers with The Album Leaf in their full glory, there was also the added bonus of the Anomie Belle String Quartet–and what a beautiful, organic gift.
Before the music started, the room was dark and thick with anticipation. The Album Leaf always accents their sets with a grand backdrop to deepen their cinematic effect. As the soft inclines of “Perro” began, the room expanded with the reflected flecks of moving light giving a subtle, ominous tone to the evening. The mix of programed sounds, keys, sound bites, textures, and the visual show had the audience acutely engaged. Continuing with “Blank Pages,” the room was gradually lifted with strings to relaxation and elegant euphoria. The Album Leaf’s presentation of ambient electronica was well received.
As the set progressed, a highlight was “Falling from the Sun.” This song was one of the riskier ones out of the mind of Jimmy LaValle. Being such an important figure in the realm of ambient electronic music, avid fans of The Album Leaf have firm opinions about lyrics and standard structures being introduced into the The Album Leaf’s vernacular. Jimmy LaValle and his merry men performed “Falling from the Sun” with earnest, open hearts, and the audience ate it up. It was a beautiful interchange.
After “Falling from the Sun” completed, LaValle addressed the audience saying, “Those were the first five songs off of A Chorus of Story Tellers that just came out on Monday.” The audience cheered. Accepting the adulation, LaValle said “And this song is … old.” with a giggle in his voice. With the first notes of “2214,” the audience went wild. More cheering ensued when the set continued with “Outer Banks” and “Shine.” “Shine” was another set highlight; the programed electronics were beautifully married with smashing cymbals from the snare drum set. Smash, smash, smash, the cymbals went, and the room filled with celestial sounds. Jimmy LaValle’s keys were bright, and the string quartet beamed.
The Album Leaf threw in a few more songs off of A Chorus of Story Tellers mixed in with some old goodies, and the energy of the room never wavered. The last time I saw The Album Leaf, it was disheartening to see so many people talking throughout the set. That was not the case on February 6, 2010. Looking around the room, I didn’t notice a single person who wasn’t enveloped in the set. It was a beautiful night from start to finish.
Please enjoy “There is Wind,” and an interview I did with Jimmy LaValle before the set.
Band Members
David Lutz – Bass, Lead Vox
Jake Weller – Guitar, Trumpet
Darren Johnson – Drums
Brian Trull – Keys
Beau Fredericks – Guitar, Backing vox
Matt Schumacher – Reed organ, Trumpet, Backing vox
Did someone order some tunes from a tugboat? Manos De Plata recently completed their new EP In the Belly of the Sea Devil. Why such a curious name for an EP you ask? It is because in the belly of The Sea Devil was where it was written. I am not talking about a Greek mythological creature; I’m talking about none other then a 140-foot long tugboat. Why record with Matt Bayles in Red Room Recording when you can self-produce on a tugboat? The fruits of their labor came out quite nicely.
At their EP release show, Manos De Plata started off their set with the song “Runner.” The tone of the first guitar was set with a subtle distortion that blended well with the introduced vox. The commingling of these two instruments in their minor scales was a seductive introduction to the set; it was a slow, haunting melody. This first song was a good demonstration of their approach to music — very melodic and progressively building.
Although a gruesome … sixsome, the highlight of the evening was when Manos De Plata brought the guest violinist Andrew Joslyn, to the stage. Andrew’s addition was such a refreshing, poignant surprise. In the song “Curvature,” the violin with its high ironic tones stood atop of music. It pulled the low minors towards it with the strength of a mythical god. The synergy was insurmountable.
The only thing that was a bit spotty were the vocals. As an example, in the aforementioned song “Curvature,” the vocals start off nice and dreamy. The flow of the singing went along perfectly with the song. At the crescendo of the song the vocals got louder and louder. The increased volume worked well with the backing music, but not so much with the singing. The attempt at maximum volume tested the lead singers range – it didn’t sound too pretty. However, the crowd was enveloped in the created moment enough that they weren’t too critical.
All and all, Manos De Plata is a fresh sea breeze in the Seattle music scene. They are currently a well kept secret, but not for long. Be sure to catch to catch a show the next time they are play at a venue near you. Until then, please enjoy a couple videos from their EP release party.
Live Band:
Drew Andrews – Guitars, Keyboards
Matthew Resovich – Violin, Guitar, Glokenspiel, Vocals
Luis Hermosillo – Bass
Timothy C. Reece – Drums, Keyboards
Andrew Pates – Live Visuals
With such a drastic difference in my “To See Rating” and my “Just Curious Rating” of this event, this is the perfect time to remind everyone that the “Just Curious Rating” is pointing to my personal experience of THIS show in particular, and the “To See Rating” is my recommendation for you invest your time and money to see the artist/band live.
With that said, the only reasonable question is, “Why such a mixed bag?” Well, first let me state for the record that I am a lover of The Album Leaf, but to be honest, I wasn’t feeling this show. My feelings about this show had nothing to do with the material played or the execution of it, I just didn’t feel like the setting was very conducive for me to get into the music. I love Neumos, they have my favorite sound system/sound technicians in the Seattle Independent Music Scene, but I think The Album Leaf would be a lot easier to fall into in a more intimate setting.
In my experience, when you are dealing with a band that has such a relaxing ambient approach to music, your experience can greatly depend on the rapt attention of your fellow concert attendees; if people are talking through the concert, it simply does not afford me the space to get into it. With the level of noise on this particular night, The Alum Leaf just seemed to float over the top like background music. That being said, my experience could have been completely different simply if I were closer to the stage. But you know what? I didn’t know that for my ultimate concert experience I needed to bring my GPS, and if my experience could be so circumstantial, was it really all that good?
On a more positive note, I felt that Jimmy Lavalle was a very charismatic entertainer. Featured in the clip is a sneak peak of some new material that he is currently recording. Also, at the end of his show he invited the bands he was on tour with, Anomie Belle and Black Mamba, to join him and his live band on stage to really end the evening with a bang. That was a beautiful experience and I’m happy to share it with you.
On Jan 15, 2009 I had the pleasure of seeing Anomie Belle live at Neumos. What stood out to me about her music is that it has a very significant message, and a call for self examination. I really like approach of a poignant message wrapped in an nonabrasive little package. Anomie Belle really creates the space where you can be confertable reflecting on what’s going on in the world and your place in it without feeling judged.
Having your music be a platform for social change can be quite and undertaking, to the point where it effects your life in ways that you could not have predicted.
I asked Anomie Belle, ” How has music shaped who you are as a person?”
She commented, “It’s just been a blessing to have a means of personal expression that I feel capable with – that I am able to articulate abstract, emotional, conceptual and poetic thoughts that aren’t as expressable through writing or other forms of communication. The capacity to do that has opened me up to many parts of myself, to be honest. I’m kind of an introvert too, so it gives me a meaningful way to interact with lots of people in the world, which might not happen otherwise.”
There are lots of ways to attempt making a difference in this day and age, some passive, some aggressive, some passive aggressive, but how effective? Determining ones own effectiveness on changing a person’s viewpoint is arguably something that can not be measured. What you can measure is what you are up to. What are you doing to make a difference weather it is effective or not? How are you leaving your mark? With these questions in mind, I took a closer look. Please enjoy this thought provoking interview with Anomie Belle back stage at Neumos captured February 1, 2009.
Please enjoy clips from Anomie Belle’s song American View captured February 1, 2009
Band Members – Peter Broderick piano, violin, guitar, vocals, loop stations
On the evening of Jan 28th 2009, Seattle had the pleasure of hosting a posse of musicians so talented that it just about made me sick with jealousy. However, my jealousy was offset with gratitude that I was able to witness what i am about to share with you.
Peter Broderick is one of those rare musicians that is so full of raw talent, that being a performing artist is an inexorable part of his life. Being in the same space with him felt natural, relaxed, and organic. With Peter Broderick’s intricate sets, there is much forethought, timing, and precision that goes into each and every song. You would think the guy would be sweating bullets to make sure that he got all of the moving parts just right, but the only thing that you are present to is ease.
Usually a one-man show, Peter was accompanied by his sister Heather Broderick, and dear friends Michael Muller and Rob Lowe from Balmorhea on this tour. With this camaraderie between the traveling musicians, and the stories that Peter told about his family during the set, it felt like I was going over to a friends house for him to play us some tunes. Jan 28th, it just so happened that the friend was Peter Broderick, and the tunes were super freakin’ amazing.
Good news chickens! Peter is coming back to Seattle, lets all go! Peter is going to be hanging out at Nectar Lounge’s house on March 5th. I’m pretty sure he’s going to have his guitar, keys, violin, and maybe even his loop stations with him, so if we’re lucky he’ll play a song or two for us. I’ll be going over sometime around 9. Be there or be square! Till then, please enjoy the following clips.
Performing the Evening of Jan 28th we had – Michael Muller – guitar, Rob Lowe – guitar, piano, Peter Broderick – violin, Heather Broderick – cello
Masters of subtlety, Balmorhea gave us quite a moving set. It’s almost curious how a show so simple in nature can be so alluring. But in that sense, Balmorhea is it’s own tautology; it is simple and alluring because it is simple and alluring.
This is the kind of music that, if it touches you, you can just sit back and listen to for hours. I can’t speak to what it is like seeing Balmorhea as a full six piece, but Michael Muller and Rob Lowe, assisted by the Peter and Heather Broderick, brought the same evocative relaxation quality to this show that you get from their released material.
I would recommend seeing Balmorhea live if for no other reason then to have the experience under your belt. Click over to their website and you will see that Balmorhea is an independent band that is on the rise. I will not be surprised when you won’t have the opportunity to see them at your local neighborhood venue; they’ll be selling tickets from venues like The Moore Theatre, and soon The Paramount. The approach that they have at music has that “it” factor, and someday I’ll be telling stories about how I saw them at the Nectar Lounge back in 2009.
Seattle Show Gal is in hot pursuit of undiscovered talent! How many great bands are out there that are slipping through the cracks? Seattle is saturated with so much music, it would be nearly impossible to sift through it all to find the good stuff. The Seattle Show Gal staff is not so proud to think that we can bring you all of it, but we are actively pursuing all different types of acts to give you a pulse on what is going on--right here in Seattle! (See more in "About")
